Method and apparatus for marking material bales

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for marking material bales ( 2 ), in which method a pressed material bale ( 2 ) is tied up by means of a binding device ( 22 ) using a binding material ( 4 ), and the binding device ( 22 ) produces at least one knot ( 6, 6 a, 6 b ) in the binding material ( 4 ) wrapped around the material bale ( 2 ), wherein a label ( 8 ) is fixed to the binding material ( 4 ) as an information carrier. The label ( 8 ) is supplied to the binding device ( 22 ), and at least a part of the label ( 8 ) is incorporated into the knot ( 6, 6 a, 6 b ).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for marking a material bale, the method comprising:
 tying a pressed material bale by a tying device with a tying material wrapped around the material bale by knotting at least one knot in the tying material; 
 supplying a label as an information carrier to the tying device; 
 fastening the label to the tying material by incorporating at least one part of the label into the at least one knot. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing the label with a read-out region configured to store information relating to the material bale and fastening the label such that the read-out region is not incorporated into the at least one knot and projects away from the at least one knot. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing the label as a radio frequency label comprising a transponder readable by radio frequency. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing the at least one part of the label or the entire label in the form of an elongate piece or a flexible strip. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising twisting at least two strands of the tying material to form the at least one knot as a twisted knot. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 using a twisting tool for producing the twisted knot; 
 positioning the label such that the label protrudes into a working radius of the twisting tool so that the label during knotting is caught by and/or in the twisting tool. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 using a twisting hook with a catching slot for producing the twisted knot; 
 positioning the label such that the label protrudes into a working radius of the twisting hook so that the label during knotting is caught in the catching slot of the twisting hook. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising positioning the label such that the label protrudes between the at least two strands of the tying material. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of knotting at least one knot includes producing a leading knot and a rearward knot in relation to an advancing direction of the material bale, wherein the at least one part of the label is incorporated into the rearward knot. 
     
     
       10. A marking apparatus for performing the method according to  claim 1 , the marking apparatus comprising:
 a storage configured to store the label serving as information carrier; 
 a dispensing mechanism configured to transport the label from the storage into a dispensing position, wherein in the dispensing position the at least one part of the label is positioned so as to be incorporated into the at least one knot during knotting of the at least one knot. 
 
     
     
       11. The marking apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the label comprises a transponder readable by radio frequency. 
     
     
       12. The marking apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one part of the label or the entire label is an elongate piece. 
     
     
       13. The marking apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one part of the label or the entire label is a flexible strip. 
     
     
       14. The marking apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a guide channel connected to the storage, wherein a portion of the label protrudes freely from the guide channel when the label is positioned in the dispensing position. 
     
     
       15. The marking apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the guide channel is oriented such in relation to a gravitation direction that the portion of the label protruding in the dispensing position extends in an arc shape. 
     
     
       16. The marking apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the guide channel is configured to apply a retaining force on the label positioned in the dispensing position, wherein the retaining force is large enough to prevent the label from falling out of the guide channel but is small enough to permit the label to be pulled out from the guide channel by a pulling force acting on the label during knotting of the at least one knot. 
     
     
       17. The marking apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the storage is a roll having a continuous band of labels wound thereon or the storage is a magazine configured to store a plurality of the label. 
     
     
       18. A material bale press comprising:
 a tying device configured to tie a pressed material bale with a tying material by knotting at least one knot in the tying material; and 
 a marking apparatus for performing the method according to  claim 1 , the marking apparatus comprising:
 a storage configured to store the label serving as information carrier; 
 a dispensing mechanism configured to transport the label from the storage into a dispensing position, respectively, wherein in the dispensing position the at least one part of the label is positioned so as to be incorporated into the at least one knot during knotting of the at least one knot. 
 
 
     
     
       19. A pressed material bale tied with a tying material, wherein
 the tying material comprises at least one knot, wherein a label as an information carrier is fastened to the tying material, wherein at least one part of the label is incorporated into the at least one knot. 
 
     
     
       20. The pressed material bale according to  claim 19 , wherein the label comprises a read-out region configured to store information relating to the pressed material bale, wherein the read-out region is not incorporated into the at least one knot and projects away from the at least one knot. 
     
     
       21. The pressed material bale according to  claim 19 , wherein the label comprises a transponder readable by radio frequency. 
     
     
       22. The pressed material bale according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one part of the label or the entire label is elongate piece. 
     
     
       23. The pressed material bale according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one part of the label or the entire label is a flexible strip.